The 5 Best Kid Playhouses

Kids need a safe place to play. When you add a kid playhouse to your yard or inside your home, you're providing that much needed space. Inside their playhouse, kids can develop independence and creativity. They can play pretend by themselves or with their friends or siblings. A playhouse encourages screen free fun. It's a spot for active play, which is so important for children. If you're looking for a kid playhouse, here are five of the best. These all provide a safe environment for kids to explore.

Step2 Neat & Tidy II Playhouse

Small Footprint Fun

Your young child will have a blast exploring all the details on this kid playhouse. It's perfectly sized for small outdoor spaces.

Best Overall

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This outdoor kid playhouse features tons of details. From the realistic stacked stone base to the attractive shingles on the roof, your child will have a blast exploring all of this house’s amenities. There’s a molded-in play sink, grill, and counter top for pretend cooking. There’s a phone, a doorbell, and a Dutch-style door. They can sit at the seat and enjoy their new home. The EverTough plastic is durable, so this playhouse holds up well to play. There are even drain holes in the floor, so you can easily clean it if needed. This playhouse measures 35 X 51 X 46.5 inches, so it won’t take up a ton of space in your yard. It weighs just over 55 pounds, so you can move it to a new spot if necessary. Despite its smaller footprint, it will still provide an engaging toy home for your kids from about 18 months until age 8 or so. You will need to add 2 AAA batteries to make the doorbell chimes work.

Pros

Loads of details
Made from durable material
Easy to clean

Cons

Assembly can be a challenge

Twinkle Star 55″ X 53″ Princess Castle Play Tent for Girls Playhouse with 138 LED Star String Lights and Banners Decor, Kids Game House for Indoor Outdoor Game

Inside Fun

If you prefer to set up a playhouse inside your home, this one has some great features.

Best for Indoor Use

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If you don’t have the space in your yard for a kid playhouse, or you prefer to set one up inside, check this option out. It’s a large solid fabric and mesh play tent that has room for up to three small kids to enjoy. The hexagon design maximizes the space. It’s easy to set up by using the included rods, and you can easily take it apart again if you need to. If the tent gets dirty, you can hand wash it and let it air dry. This playhouse measures 55 X 55 X 53 inches. It weighs less than five pounds, so you can easily move it around as desired. The LED star lights are beautiful, and a favorite feature for many kids. However, if you are worried about your child getting tangled in the lights, you can just leave those off.

Pros

Beautiful princess theme
Spacious design
Star lights and flamingo pineapple banners

Cons

The assembly directions are not well written

Swing-N-Slide Chesapeake Wood Complete Play Set with Two Swings, Monkey Bars, Slide, Climbing Wall and Picnic Table

A Large Outdoor Playhouse

This kid playhouse will add fun to your backyard for years to come.

Best for Older Kids

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Are you ready to invest in a kid playhouse that will keep your kids busy for years to come? This playhouse really encourages active play. Kids have to use a climbing wall, monkey bars or a ladder to reach it. Once inside, there’s a window for them to look out while they play. The canopy roof will keep them out of the weather. There are swings, a slide, and a picnic table, so this playhouse will get a lot of use. Since it requires climbing and is elevated, this one is best for slightly older kids. The swings and slide can all support up to 250 pounds, so you can head out and have some fun with your kids. The lumber is all pre-cut, drilled, and stained, so it’s ready to assemble. It meets all ASTM safety standards. This playhouse will take up a lot of space in your yard. Once assembled, the dimensions are 15-feet 11-inches wide, 15-feet 11-inches long, and 10-feet 3-inches high.

Pros

Great for active play
Will last for years
Lumber is pre-cut and stained

Cons

Assembly is a pain, and goes much more smoothly with help

Little Tikes Activity Garden Baby Playset

Stimulating Colors

This kid playhouse helps babies develop motor skills.

Best for Babies

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If you’re looking for a kid playhouse for your baby or young toddler, this one is perfect. It’s multi-functional, and can be transformed from a closed play center to an open one with two-sides. You don’t need any tools to make the change. The colors are designed to be stimulating to young eyes. There are many features to explore, which will help your little one develop fine and gross motor skills. There’s a mailbox shape sorter, an archway for crawling through, and shutters that open and close. Your baby will enjoy tapping on the Tap-a-Tune piano, or looking at themselves in the mirror. They can press a button to hear bird sounds. At 25.5 X 25 X 33.2 inches, it’s a great size for your baby.

Pros

Engaging features
Transforms from a closed playhouse to an open play center
Helps promote healthy development

Cons

The mailbox door could be a pinching hazard for your baby – definitely supervise their use

Kiddey Kids Play Tent & Playhose – Indoor/Outdoor Camping Tent for Boys and Girls – Promotes Early Learning, Social Bonding, Imagination Building and Roleplay – Easy Setup

A Portable Playhouse

A budget friendly playhouse you can easily set up and take down.

Most Portable

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This portable playhouse is easy to set up, and offers a fun place for your kids to play. It sets up quickly with flexible fiberglass tent poles and in-ground stakes. The color coded assembly directions makes it go together easily. When you’re done, it’s simple to disassemble. There’s a bag to store everything in. This playhouse has three entrances. There’s a front door, and two tunnel windows with roll-down flaps. The bottom is waterproof, so your kids can stay dry if playing on wet grass. The tent is made from high-quality nylon that’s been double stitched. It really holds up well to active play.

Pros

Easy to assemble
Portable
Has a waterproof floor

Cons

The top is made from netting instead of solid nylon

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a kid playhouse help a child developmentally?

In a kid playhouse, your child will have the opportunity to practice many skills. They will work on their gross motor skills as they climb in and out and run around the playhouse. This active play is so important for healthy development. They will practice their communication skills as they talk about the playhouse and all of their adventures inside. If your child plays inside with another person, they will have the opportunity to take turns and share, and develop other social skills.

What type of playhouse should I buy?

There are many different kid playhouses on the market. Before you purchase one, there are a few things to consider. Think about how old your child is, and what they are developmentally ready for. You want them to be able to play safely and encourage independent play. You also need to consider your skill level when it comes to assembling the playhouse. Some are complicated to assemble, so if you don’t feel comfortable with the directions, make sure you ask for help. Make sure you have the required tools before you start putting the playhouse together. You also want to measure before purchasing to make sure the playhouse will fit where you want it to go. You don’t want to wind up with one that is too large for the space you have.